Analyzing AEW’s TV chances against WWE NXT on Wednesday nights
AEW announced a launch of a weekly television show beginning Wednesday October 2nd.
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) were strategic by placing their show unopposed any major wrestling promotions. Vince McMahon threw a counter punch. He revealed that WWE NXT will be moving to the USA Network starting on September 18th with a 2 hour show every Wednesday.
This may be a knee jerk reaction by the WWE board moving the Black and Gold brand. AEW throws a few jabs on social media platforms to the conglomerate that is the WWE. So they counter punch by putting WWE NXT, the company’s developmental brand on major cable television.
What does this mean for All Elite Wrestling’s chances on TNT?
AEW has had a slow build since they officially became a promotion at the beginning of the year. They have released talent signings periodically to go along with Pay per views and other shows this Summer. The initial returns have been promising as ‘Double Or Nothing’ was praised by wrestling fans and writers. It has offered an alternative to the monopoly that WWE has created when it bought out WCW.
AEW will continue to run its race and shouldn’t feel threatened by NXT moving in the same time slot on Wednesday nights. The WWE Network will offer the replay of NXT the next morning. The Brand is also moving from 1 to 2 hours in order to match up with AEW. Speculation of Vince McMahon taking some, if not full control of NXT when it moves to the USA Network is a further argument that AEW can gain some ground from the get go.
WWE NXT’s style is what you would see with an independent promotion. More creative story-lines and exciting matches each week with talent allowed to display breathtaking grace, athleticism and full movesets from each performers. With all of the action having better production quality under the WWE umbrella. Specifically their critically acclaimed “Takeover” specials on the Network. The brilliance of those events are what has made NXT “the shiny new toy of professional wrestling.”
Imagine that being watered down on USA? You can literally hear the sound of remotes clicking over to TNT if you see some of the same repetitive stories being told in NXT which you see on the main roster. It also wipes away the mystique and creativity which makes the brand so good to begin with.
AEW is near identical in the aspect of wonderful content from the early onset. The one advantage they may have is that they’re likely to have a TV-14 rating when it begins on October 2nd. The rating can allow for more adult themed content. Not to the wavelengths of the ‘Attitude Era’ thankfully, but a blend of great in ring action, well thought out promos and content that could bring back some of the viewers lost in the early 2000’s.
Yet to think that AEW can’t come out of this as the lead horse in this race would be foolish for anyone to think. The name itself is not associated with World Wrestling Entertainment, even if it has a few of their former performers on its television show. This can play a huge role in AEW’s development on TNT. The ability to create new stars which the likes of which new viewers to its product will have never seen. The ability for someone like Kenny Omega, MJF or Adam Page to become a larger than life superstar is theirs for the proverbial taking.
The fact is we are going to see a rivalry between AEW and NXT whether we like it or not. You’ll have men who were once allies on opposite sides of your television screens. WWE NXT being led by the NXT champion and former ‘Elite’ member Adam Cole.
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While AEW will counter with ‘Elite stalwarts The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega. If both brands are executed properly, we as wrestling fans are in for some compelling television. Which is a win-win for all of us and that’s all we can hope for.